Posted - 09/12/2012 : 08:20:18 Seeing as how it is quite unlikely that the season starts on time . . . which team, if any, do you think might benefit the most from a season that is half, 2/3 or 3/4 as long as a normal one?

Best showing in years...but still, as we've ALL become accustomed to...nothing to show for it.

This is true too of the Habs who now will only be TIED for last place...along with everyone else.

0 games. 0 hockey. ALL hokey. And WAY too much Bettman. [again]

Who the cap fits...Let them wear it.

Guest4315

Posted - 09/16/2012 : 11:50:29Edmonton

slozo

Posted - 09/13/2012 : 10:41:36 I voted the two finalists - definitely gives them more of a summer to rest and relax. So for New Jersey and LA, I think it's a bit of a plus for sure.

But the bubble teams, that in the long run may have missed the playoffs, could benefit in a shorter season - just riding a hot streak, hot goalie, hot line, etc. Over the long haul, the better teams will always rise to the top.

But that bubble team is difficult to predict - just because Toronto was hot to start last season, doesn't mean they will this season if and when they start.

The other thing it definitely favours is the older, banged-up players, and teams with those players. For my money, top of the list for that would be older goaltenders - Kipprusoff in Calgary, for sure, and certainly Brodeur in NJ off the top of my head.

Hmm. Really have to say it favours New Jeresey. Not only did they play the most games last year, but older key players are a huge part of that team - Brodeur, Elias, Zidlicky, Zubrus. And remember, they lost Parise, who played first line minutes.

"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug

nuxfan

Posted - 09/12/2012 : 21:44:47 the teams that play the longest should benefit the most from a shortened season. I remember well the very slow start that both VAN and BOS had after the 2011 finals, neither team really got going until early December... so this season, I expect LA and NJD will benefit the most from the extra rest.

Beans15

Posted - 09/12/2012 : 12:38:43 It really depends on how the team is playing. To the guests point, I think TO would have loved to start the playoffs at the start of Feb last year. They may have lost early, but they would have been in. Contrary, the Devils had a stellar 2nd half to last season and took that momentum all the way to the Cup final.

I think the only thing a shorter season does is it puts a higher premium on the games. 60 games are more valuable in a season of 60 games compared to 60 games in a season of 80 games. A longer season means more room for error.

Daniel Alfredsson is the MVP of the universe. All hail the Ottawa Senators!!!!!

Guest8384

Posted - 09/12/2012 : 10:25:31 Over time I think the better teams would show that they are in fact the better team.

Like last year for example Toronto used a hot part of the season to make people believe that they were in fact better tha they were/are. Over the course of the full season it became clear who the real playoff teams were and the ones that weren't

I think the shortened season will help the bubble playoffs teams and the very young teams.